UH Sociology Chair: Statement from Slom is 'inaccurate' and 'offensive'

State Sen. Sam Slom appeared on FOX News' "The O'Reilly Factor" on Thursday and said that some of our diverse cultures in Hawaii don't see any problem or any crime in having sexual relations with young children.

The show's host, Bill O'Reilly, asked Slom why the left in Hawaii opposes Jessica's Law, which the name of the law given in several states designed to protect potential victims and reduce a sexual offender's ability to re-offend.

"The only thing I can tell you is basically what they say. And I think it's a case of misplaced compassion, compassion for perpetrators and there's also an underlying cultural problem here where some of our diverse cultures actually don't see any problem or any crime in having sexual relations with young children," said Slom.

Slom is the only Republican in the state Senate. He says he introduced Jessica's Law in the state legislature a couple of times.

"The statement from Senator Slom that 'some of our diverse cultures actually don't see any problem or any crime in having sexual relations with young children' is inaccurate and offensive. Clearly the Senator was referring to racial, ethnic and national groups in his use of the term, 'diverse cultures' in the Hawaii context," said University of Hawaii Department of Sociology Chair Valli Kalei Kanuha. "However, there is absolutely no evidence that child sexual abuse is viewed as acceptable in any social group or community, and is in fact considered an aberration across most societies in this and in every period in history."

Hillary Clinton's office said "nothing nefarious was at play" when the former secretary of state used her personal email address, rather than one provided by the State Department, during her four years as America's top diplomat.